BMW X5 Complaints (2026)

29 consumer complaints on file.

#11774200October 28, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
on 3 occasions the corner of the tailgate, while closing, struck the top of my head and did not retract. Very painful. The force was adequate to cause serious injury. I'm a physician. if I had been taking anticoagulant therapy (blood thinners) the impact was enough to potentially cause a bleed inside the brain. After the even I reproduced the even, allowing the corner of the gate to close on a flat bathroom scale. again it did not stop and forced the scale out of my hands, recording 30 pounds. did not retract. Took to the dealer and they said everything function normally. at the center of the gate, it retracted. however providing resistance at the corner, the gate didn't stop until considerable resistance was applied. It just seems with the sensitivity at this level an individual, particularly an elderly "little old lady" could sustain a very significant injury. I suspect there is a sensitivity adjustment in the control software on the spindle motor that raises and lowers the gate. If all X5 gates do this, IMO, it is a design flaw. Just tested it again. at least 10 - 15 lbs of resistance was needed to stop the gate
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772577October 21, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
An alert came on the screen suddenly when I tried to start the vehicle on oct 5 2026 saying there was a drivetrain malfunction it was unable to start and that there was possible high voltage and it needed service immediately. It required tow to bmw service center and as of Oct 6 2026 they say it requires a software update that does not yet exist.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11771166October 14, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This is a brand new vehicle with fewer than 4000 miles on the odometer. The Panoramic Sunroof shattered without any foreign object or projectile being the cause of the explosive nature of the damage. No other marks anywhere on the car. It is clear that from the remaining broken glass left behind in the frame the panoramic roof was pushed up and not struck from above.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769278October 6, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2026 BMW X5. The contact stated that while stopped at a red light with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle unexpectedly moved forward. Additionally, while the vehicle was parked and turned off, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where the failure was reproduced. The dealer acknowledged failure and provided the contact with a loaner vehicle. The dealer was awaiting guidance from an engineer regarding the failure and the repair. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and email. The approximate failure mileage was 4,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769004October 5, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle: 2026 BMW X5 xDrive50e (VIN: [your VIN], mileage at delivery: [X]) Shortly after taking delivery on [date] from Ferman BMW in Tampa, FL, I experienced an issue with the hybrid/EV operation: [describe exactly what happens — e.g., hybrid system warning light, loss of electric drive, unexpected behavior — be specific and factual]. I reported it immediately to the dealer and to BMW Customer Relations (case #[9344973]). The issue has not been resolved. I am concerned about [safety angle — e.g., sudden loss of propulsion power while driving]. BMW has not offered a repair or replacement vehicle — only a standard trade-in that would cost me approximately $18,000, which I declined.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11767809September 29, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On August 16, 2026, while using the Automatic Parking/Parking Assistant feature on my 2026 BMW X5 M60i, the vehicle was performing an automated reverse parking maneuver. During the maneuver, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated backward toward a vehicle parked behind me and struck it. The acceleration occurred while the Parking Assistant system was controlling the maneuver. Because of the sudden acceleration and short distance to the vehicle behind me, there was insufficient time to recognize the unexpected movement and intervene before impact. A passenger in my vehicle witnessed the incident. I reported the incident to BMW. BMW North America subsequently inspected the vehicle and advised that it performed multiple automatic parking maneuvers but was unable to reproduce the excessive speed. BMW stated that the cameras and obstacle-distance displays operated normally during its testing and that no malfunction was identified. BMW also provided the vehicle's EDR data. BMW states that the EDR recorded no event and therefore contains no speed, acceleration, throttle, brake, or other incident-specific data from the collision. Accordingly, BMW's subsequent testing does not establish what the vehicle was doing during the actual incident. BMW also initially advised that no video existed because Drive Recorder was not activated. However, my BMW ConnectedDrive account for this VIN shows “BMW Drive Recorder – Active.” I have asked BMW to clarify whether Drive Recorder itself was active but a particular recording setting or trigger was not enabled. The precise cause is UNKNOWN. My concern is a possible intermittent malfunction of the Automatic Parking/Parking Assistant system involving unexpected acceleration/speed control during an automated reverse parking maneuver.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11766793September 24, 2026
ENGINE
Component: Engine / Fuel/Propulsion System / Engine Cooling Vehicle Odometer at Failure: 463 Miles Date of Incident: September 8, 2026 Description of Safety Hazard: While driving a brand-new 2026 BMW X5 with only 463 total miles on the odometer (purchased on July 30, 2026), the vehicle suffered a sudden and catastrophic manufacturing failure of the oil filter housing unit. This failure caused an immediate, severe loss of over a quart of volatile, hot engine oil, which completely leaked out and stained my personal driveway. A rapid loss of engine oil at highway speeds presents an extreme safety hazard, including a high risk of catastrophic metal-on-metal engine seizure, sudden loss of vehicle propulsion in traffic, and a severe risk of under-hood vehicle fire due to pressurized engine oil leaking onto hot exhaust and engine components. This vehicle is part of a known, systemic manufacturing defect currently subject to active federal class-action design litigation against BMW of North America. The manufacturer has provided a credit due to the severity, but the dealership has failed to execute a safe and equitable vehicle replacement.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763588September 11, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Car braked without warning while going around a curve and came to a complete stop in the middle of the road with no good reason. Traffic going the opposite direction was heavy but no hazards on my side of the road. Cars behind me had to swerve and I was nearly rear ended and could have resulted in very serious injury.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762487September 6, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Emergency stopping system alerted me seconds before it shut the car down. Traveling on the highway at approximately 60 miles an hour car went into emergency stopping. Unassisted brakes were applied car pulled to the right and when it reached the brake down lane, it stopped. Hazard lights were engaged and phone call was initiated to BMW roadside assistance. All without driver assistance. Yes it was a dangerous situation as the car slowed down on its own on a busy highway. Do not know what component failed and has not been seen by BMW in order to assess the situation. This is the second time the car has initiated an unassisted stop. First unassisted stop gave no warning, second unassisted stop flashed a message stating that car was going to “emergency shutdown”. Car has experienced two emergency shut downs with no apparent emergency.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11762046September 3, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The trim on the back of the exhaust is a rough manufactured cut on all their X5s and instead of filing the rough the edge BMW leaves this untouched. Was washing my car and ran my finger over the trim and it sliced my finger open like a razor blade.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11761698September 2, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Driving on highway using assisted driving pro (hands off steering wheel and feet off pedals). Speed set for 65 or 67. Driver's phone call came up on display screen. Passenger answered and hung up on screen. Driver did not touch wheel. Car started accelerating. Reached 93 mph before realized what was happening and able to apply brakes. Short time later tried to reengage speed and verbally requested increase to 65 or 67. Car set cruise control to 110. Both passengers heard 65 or 67, definitely not 110. Applied brake and didn't use any driver assistance controls for remainder of trip. Nice weather, no glare, light traffic. Software update was installed the day before. BMW dealership found no problem. National BMW consumer line suggested setting speed manually with buttons on steering wheel instead of verbally.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11758406August 21, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
On [XXX] as I was driving on [XXX] in Fl and got in to some traffic I noticed the car was shuddering a bit when I braked and I could here metal against metal coming from the brakes. I called SIXT 800 number and spoke to a Gentleman at their call center in Asia. He asked me why I needed brakes . I was shocked at his response , needless to say. He told me he reported it and I needed to return the car in Miami at the airport . I spent the night in Jupiter as it was around 5 pm. The next day [XXX] I drove the car to the MIA Airport where it was exchanged for a new car. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11757606August 18, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I was driving at 70 mph on the highway when the car suddenly and without warning went into neutral, lost all functionality, and displayed the warning "Drivetrain Malfunction--Stop Driving Immediately--Call Roadside Assistance." I had to drift (barely) to side of a busy highway and exit the vehicle to get to safety. The dealer review of fault codes include: High-voltage system: No voltage established; No communication possible with: Accumulator-management electronics; SME: Software action required; Function: Acceleration not possible; Function: It is not possible to establish the drive-ready state; Drive function: Repair measure will soon be necessary. This happened on XXX around noon on XXX in [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756626August 13, 2026
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2026 BMW X5 xDrive50e experienced a serious freeway safety event involving loss of braking/brake power, loss of vehicle power/functionality, and multiple vehicle warnings/errors. The incident occurred while I was driving on the freeway and substantially affected my ability to safely operate the vehicle. BMW Emergency Services subsequently towed the vehicle to Irvine BMW on 07/09/2026. Irvine BMW later attributed the event to Emergency Stop Assist (ESA) and the Driver Monitoring System (DMS), rather than identifying a mechanical brake failure. Its written explanation states that ESA can take over vehicle guidance and decelerate the vehicle using multiple short braking jolts. The dealership reported a stored DMS fault but stated that it could not duplicate my reported condition. I have not been provided evidence that the original freeway event was reproduced or that its cause was conclusively established. Irvine BMW initially represented that material covering the display was an aftermarket screen protector and stated that BMW Technical required its removal because it could interfere with the DMS camera. On 07/27/2026, the General Manager apologized and confirmed that the material was actually original BMW transportation protection film. The dealership also proposed reducing ESA sensitivity as an alternative. I remain concerned that the combination of loss of braking/brake power, loss of vehicle power/functionality, and the reported ESA/DMS behavior may represent a serious safety defect or malfunction affecting braking, vehicle control, or driver-monitoring systems. I kindly request that NHTSA review this reported safety event, including ESA, DMS, related vehicle-control systems, and the interaction with the display/driver-monitoring system, and determine whether further investigation is warranted. I can provide dealership records, BMW App data, communications, and diagnostic documents.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11756589August 12, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
On [XXX], my 2026 BMW X5 (VIN [XXX], 22,314 mi) was damaged during an automated reverse parking maneuver by BMW Parking Assistant, with automatic emergency braking enabled. Three failures occurred. I have used Parking Assistant nightly for ~6 months to back into my home garage: ~180 identical maneuvers, zero prior incidents or warnings. Nothing about the garage or environment changed. Failure 1: The system calculated and executed a trajectory that steered the vehicle into the garage structure. First contact was at the driver side rear fender flare. Failure 2: No graduated proximity warnings sounded during the approach. The first and only sensor alert occurred simultaneously with impact. The alert at contact proves the sensors were functional, yet no advance warning was given. Failure 3: After contact was detected and the alert sounded, the vehicle kept moving. Automatic braking did not stop it. The scrape traveled forward along the entire driver side door and sheared off the driver side mirror before the vehicle stopped. At parking speed, stopping distance is inches; the continuous scrape from fender flare to mirror is physical evidence of sustained post-contact travel. The system requested driver intervention only after impact. I was actively supervising. The window from failure onset to impact was under one second, below human reaction time. No supervising driver could have intervened. Damage: driver side rear fender flare, door, and mirror. No injuries. No software changes have been made since the incident. A formal case and engineering investigation have been requested from BMW of North America, including written preservation of EDR, parking maneuver logs, sensor data, brake commands, and telematics. Servicing dealer: Crevier BMW, Santa Ana, CA. I believe this indicates a software defect in path planning, sensor logic, or post-contact braking that may affect other vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756521August 12, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2026 BMW X5. The contact stated that after several days of not driving the vehicle, the messages "Starter Battery Low," "Starter Battery Severely Discharged”, and “You can Still Drive - However Power-Consuming Functions Disabled to Preserve the Battery," were displayed on the BMW App. The contact stated that the battery was severely drained after being fully recharged. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated and the vehicle was pulled over the shoulder of the road, where the vehicle remained until a local independent mechanic arrived on scene to attempt to restart the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it remained for further investigation. The vehicle was previously repaired at the same local dealer for internal BMW Technical Campaign: B12032626E-A01; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was repaired for Sensing and Module Electronics (SME) and Battery Management Electronics (BME) units. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 644.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754180August 1, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I have a 2026 BMW X5 50E. I experienced the same malfunction twice in the same day. The first occurrence was when I was taking my husband to a doctors appointment. While parking the car and when I was almost at a stop the vehicle lurched forward and was stopped by the concrete curb. My husband asked me what happened and I said I don’t know. The second occurrence was about two hours later after visiting a second doctors office I headed to a lunch spot. I pulled into a parking spot and had come almost to a stop and once again the vehicle lurched forward with an even more powerful sudden acceleration. The vehicle struck a metal railing, bordering, an outdoor dining area. Once the railing was hit It pushed into a large freestanding metal continuous privacy panel. The privacy panel collapsed on people and caused multiple injuries. This incident endangered the safety of myself and the safety of many others. There were multiple injuries. I have not yet had the vehicle inspected by a third-party. I received no warnings on the car or through the app prior to the failure. These incidents occurred on July 31, 2026 between 10 AM and 12 PM. I have read and saved the error codes available on the car. There may be some that are associated with the incident. Also of note the incident occurred several days after a software update on July 26 at 1:30 AM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
8
Deaths:
0
#11752936July 26, 2026
SEAT BELTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:INTERIOR
The driver’s door lock has malfunctioned for the second time. The door became stuck in the locked position and could not be opened normally. There were no warning lights or messages indicating a problem with the door latch or lock system. This creates a serious safety hazard because the driver could be unable to exit the vehicle during an emergency. The right rear passenger seat belt also does not retract properly and cannot be used. The vehicle has previously been taken to a BMW dealership for this same issue, but the problem has returned. Because the seat belt cannot be used, a rear passenger cannot be properly restrained, creating a significant safety risk in the event of a crash.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751544July 20, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Summary of the Problem: Intermittently, after starting the vehicle, the center infotainment display becomes stuck on the BMW startup logo and never completes the boot process. The condition persists while driving. Safety Risk: When this occurs, the rearview backup camera is unavailable when the vehicle is shifted into reverse, reducing rear visibility and increasing the risk of a backing collision. Other infotainment functions are also unavailable. Frequency: Intermittent. The issue has occurred multiple times. Conditions: The issue occurs at vehicle startup. No specific weather or operating conditions have been identified. Troubleshooting Performed: * Restarted iDrive by holding the audio volume/power button for approximately 30 seconds. The system restarts but remains stuck on the BMW startup logo. * The only reliable recovery is to lock the vehicle and leave it undisturbed for approximately 30 minutes or longer. After the vehicle enters sleep mode, the system functions normally again.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749198July 8, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
This vehicle has now experienced the same severe, life-threatening defect on four separate occasions. While driving at approximately 45–50 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly loses power and rapidly decelerates. A red warning message first appears stating "Inability to Drive," followed within a few seconds by "Emergency Shutdown." The vehicle then initiates an uncommanded emergency stop on public roads and highways without any input from me. On two separate occasions, vehicles traveling behind me had to brake suddenly or swerve around my vehicle to avoid a collision, resulting in near-miss accidents. This defect presents a significant safety hazard and places both my family and other motorists at risk. The vehicle has been brought to the dealership three separate times for evaluation of this same issue. To date, the dealership has been unable to identify the root cause of the defect. The only repair performed has been an installation of software updates; however, the dangerous condition has continued to occur despite these updates.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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